Collapsible lamp shade



, 1,673,665 D. c. cRUsE COLLAPSIBLE LAMP SHADE Filed June 6, 1927 3 sheets--shept` 2 ,Q\\. A C.

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1% @wmv K wm mm v June 12, 1928. D. c. cRUsE COLLAPSIBLE LAMP SHADE Filed June 6, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 12, 1928.

DELLA C. CRUSE, OF HODGENVILLE, KENTUCKY.

GOLLAPSIBLE LAMP SHADE.

Application filed .Tune 6,

This invention relates to that class of devices known as electric table or floor lamps, and has more particular reference to an i mproved collapsible shade iior lamps oi this rind.

rlflie primary object of the invention is to provide a collapsible shade which, when opened and in use7 will present a syiiunetri cal and attractive appearance, and which, when closed and not in use, will occupy a very small space so that it may beset aside and out oit the `way without liability oit being turneijl over and broken by contact` therewith.

Other objects are to provide a collapsible lamp .shade ot the above character consisting oit' two parts compact-ly arranged in cooperative relation to each other, and which shall be simple in construction, inexpensive in manuiacturey` and etiicientand durable in practical use.

`Still another object to provide yicldable means normally acting to collapse the shade, readily accessible manually operable means .tor readily permitting the shade to be eX- panded or opened. and manually releasable n'ieans to automatically latch the shade in expanded condition when manually expanded.

Still another object is to provide means tor necessitating the lamp to be turned out betere the shade. may be collapsed and tor preventing the lamp trom being turned on or lighted when the shade is collapsed.

Other objects will become apparent as the nature of the invention ia better understood, and the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinaftter more tully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

ln the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure l an elevational view of an electric table lamp having a collapsible shade constructed in accordance with the present .invention7 the shade being in expanded condition;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l with the shade collapsed;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fi the shade coveringT removed;

Figure l is a view similar to Figure with the shade covering removed;

eure 2 with 1927. Serial No. 196,759.

Figure V5 is an enlarged 'fragmentary top plan view showing details ol the shade with its covering ren'ioved;l 4

Figure (i is an enlarged fragmentaryview y.

partly in elevation and partly in sectionon line 6 6 ot Figui-e. 5, with `the parts adjusted to t-lie'position wherein the shade is collapsed; and y Figure l is a fragmentary horizontalcsection taken substantially upon-lineT-f? ot' Figure 6. f

rlhe invention is illustratedby way of eX- aniple in connection `with an electric lamp empost in the torni ot a vase 5, the bottom of which is closed by ine-ans of the top wall 6 ot a hollow ornamental supportingbase 7, and the upper end or mouth ot which is bodying an ornamental hollow standard or.

closed by means of a sheet metal bell-shaped A cap 8.

The lamp includes a vertical elongated substantially rectangular open` trame 9 tor supporting a lamp socketand shade, said trame 9 beingv composed ot suitably joinedA pipe sections to `torni a conduit Yfor the conductors l0 through which the necessary current Y is supplied to the lamp socket. `As shown, the lower horizontal member ot the frame 9 is provided with acentral depend `ing nipple il which rests upon the top ot the ap 8 and which has the upper end ot a hollow stein or pipe section l2 threaded into the saine, the stem l2 extending throughthe center ot the cap 92 the standard top wall G ot the base 7, and having anut 1.3 threaded upon the lower end thereof against the under surface ot the wall 6 whereby the cap 8 and base 7 are firmly bolted against the top and bottom ends ot the standard or vase 5. ln this way thefconductois l0 may be led under the base 7 npwardly through the stem l2, and then separated to each extend up through one side port-ion oit' the 'trame 9 as indicatedin Figure G,

Rigidly carried by and centrally interposed in the upper horizontal member of the frame 9 is an inverted lamp socket lll,y ot conventional tornninto .the lower end ot which is adapted to be threaded the base 15 of a conventional incandescent electric. lamp 16 whereby the lamp 16 is effectively supported in a depending inverted position within the trame 9. As -shownythe lamp 5 and the socket 14 is preferably of the switch including a transversely sliding push button 17 adaptedJ to be pressedin. Ythe well known manner, in one directiomto light the lamp 16, and in the other direction, to turn the lamp 16 out. Y Rigidly secured to and encircling the upper end of the traine 9 in spaced superimposed relation, are horizontal rings 1S and 19, and pivotally mounted at regular intcrvals upon the upper ring 18 are the inner endsof a circular series ot radiating ribs 20 upon which a suitable shade covering 21 suitably secured, the ribs being mounted for vertical swinging movement so as to be capable of assuming van outwardly and downwardly inclined position as shown in Figure 4 to set 'the covering 21 and present a shade in expanded or open conditiomlor to depend yin a substantially vertical position for permitting the coveringr 21 to told and present a collapsed shade as indicatedfin Figui-cs2 and 3.

Manually operable means is provided for facilitating swinging ofthe ribs 2O to extype fp'anded or collapsed position, and such means includes an inverted cup-shaped shell 21 slidably telescoped onto the upper end portion of the socket 14 and having longi tudinally elongated side slots 22 through which the adjacent portions ot the upper member of the frame 9 project, whereby the desired vertical slidingr movement of said shell 21 is permitted. Rigid with and radiatinpr from the lower end of the shell 21 are a. plurality ot' horizontal elongated loops 23 in which are loosely engaged the relatively large eyes 24 provided upon theinner .ends of braces 25 whose outer ends are suitably slidably and pivotally associated with the ribs 20 as at 26, preferably by means` of eyes upon the outer ends ot' the braces 25. slidably engaging longitudinal loops 27 fixed to the inner sides of the ribs 20 intermediate the ends ot the latter. It will beunderstood that a brace 25 is pro- `vided for each rib. and each brace includes an intermediate elongated loop portion 28 Vloosely engaged with the lower ringr 19 whereby the braces 25 are fulcrumed on the ring 19 tor vertical swinging movement. Thus, the braces 25 form levers swinging about the stationary ring 19 and operatively connected at. their inner ends to the vertically sliding shell 21 so that when the latter is depressed. the outer ends ot the braces or levers 25 will be swung outwardly and upwardly to correspondingly swing the ribs 20 and thereby expand the shade. and so that when the. shell 21 is raised the braces `or levers 25 will be swunen the opposite direction for swinging the ribs 20 downwardlv and inwardly to collapsed position. Av helical compression spring 29 is placed within the shell 21 and interposed between the top `wardly slightly on the of the latter and the upper end ot the socket 14 for normally raising the shell 2l and collapsing the shade.

i The shell 21 preferably has an npstanding threaded stem 30 upon its upper end upon which is threaded a cap nut 31, and resiliently attached to opposite sides` of the cap nut 31 are a pair ot ring-shaped linger pieces 32 from each ot' which depends a resilient catch strip 33 havingr a keeper opening 34in the lower end thereof and normally tensioned or sprungr inwardly by spring members 35, the lower apertured ends of the catch stripsl 33 being directed outwardly at an inclination as shown best in Figure 6. Fixed upon the portions of the upper horizontal member of the frame 9 at opposite sides of the shell 21 are catch members 36 having outwardly directed catch lugs 37 upon the upwardly and inwardly inclined inner end portions thereof. These catches 36 are so arranged that when the shell 21 is depressed the inclined lower ends of the catch strip 3() will engage the inclined inner ends oi the catches 36 and be spread slightly until they snap over the lugs 37, thus autouiatically latchiucir the shell 21 in lowered position to retain the shade in expanded condition. By pressing: downshell 21 and simultaneously liftingr upwardly on the finger pieces 22. the latter may he flexed relative to the cap nut 31 for disengaginflr the lower ends of the catch strips 33 from the lugs 37 of the catches 36. thereby permittingr the springY 29 to return the shell 21 to elevated position for collapsing the shade.

Provided in one side ot the shell 21 coincident with the adjacent end of the push button 17 of the switch of socket 14 is an elongated slot 38, and provided in the opposite side ot' the shell 21 in the same longitudinal plane as the other end ot the push button 17 is a circular opening 39 adapted to register with the push button 17 when the shell 21 is depressed and the shade is expanded. It will be noted that the openingr 39 will move out of registry with the push button 17 when the shell 21 is elevated, and as the adjacent end of the push button 17 must be projected outwardly of the shell to lightI thewlamp 16. the push button 17 may not be operated to close the switch unless the shade is expanded. The slot 38 permits the necessary movement of the shell 21 relative to the other projecting end of the push button 17 when the switch is turned off, for permitting the shade to be collapsed by elevation of the .shell 21. As the shellI 21 projects ahove the upper ring 18 and the shade proper. it is readily accessible for actuation to expand the shade. andthis is also true with respect to the finger pieces 32 for efteetingr release of the shade by means of which the latter may be permitted to collapse. As these parts which are exposed above the shade may be constructed to have a quite ornamental appearance, they will not detract :trom the beauty of the lamp to a material degree.

lVhile the invention has been exemplified in connection with a table lamp, it will nevertheless be understood that the same may be embodied in a floor or other lamp by proper change in the form or construction of the stand. It will also be apparent that numerous minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

lVhat I claim as new is l. In a collapsible lamp shade, a pair of stationary horizontal rings disposed in spaced superposed relation, a series of ribs hinged on the upper ring, brace levers tulcrumed intermediate their ends on the lower ring and operatively connected at their ont er ends to the ribs, and a vertically slidable shell mounted within the rings and operatively connected to the inner ends of the brace levers.

:2. In a collapsible lamp shade, a pair of stationary horizontal rings disposed in spaced superposed relation, a series oit ribs hinged on the upper ring, brace levers tulcrunied intermediate their ends on the lower ring and operatively connected at their outer ends to the ribs, a vertically slidable shell mounted within the rings and operatively connected to the inner ends of the brace levers, a vertical supporting trame for said rings, and an inverted lamp socket carried by the top ot the t' ame onto which said shell is slidably telescoped.

3. In a collapsible lamp shade, a pair oi stationary horizontal rings disposed in spaced superposed relation, a series of ribs hinged on the upper ring, brace levers fulcrurned intermediate their ends on the lower ring and operatively connected at their 0uter ends to the ribs, a vertically slidable shell mounted within the rings and operatively connected to the inner ends of the brace le vers, a vertical supporting :trame for said rings, and an inverted lamp socketcarried by the top or" the frame onto which said shell is slidably telescoped, said lamp socket embodying a switch, and said shell and switch being cooperatively constructed to prevent the switch from being closed when the shade is collapsed and to require opening of the switch to enable the shade to be collapsed.

4. The combination with a support having a fixed inverted lamp socket, of a collapsible shade mounted on the support, means for expanding the shade including a manually depressible shell slidably telescoped onto the upper end of said lamp socket, cooperating elements carried by the support and the shell for latching the latter in depressed shade expanding position, and yieldable means to automatically raise the shell and collapse the shade when the shell is unlatched.

5. In a collapsible lamp shade, a pair oi stationary horizontal rings disposed in spaced superposed relation, a series of ribs hinged on the vupper ring, brace levers tulcrruned intermediate their ends on the lower ring and operatively connected at their outer ends to the ribs, a vertically slidable shell mounted within the rings and operatively connected to the inner ends of the brace levers, radial elongated horizontal loops on the lower end of the shell, and relatively large eyes on the inner ends of the brace levers loosely engaged in said loops.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

DELLA C. CRUSE. 

